Why I like my shaft drive

desertdog · 03-15-2011, 05:56 PM

Did a Patriot Guard mission today. Got in about the middle of the pack, surrounded by harleys 2 in front, one on my side and two behind.

Soon as we got going I noticed all the belt drives were chirping.

Get up to about 30 MPH and it sounded like I was stuck in the middle of a flock of giant canaries.

The noise would not quit.

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Wound up with a head ache from all that chirping before we were done.

I like my nice quiet smooth shaft drive. :)

**ringadingh** · 03-15-2011, 05:59 PM

I ride with two of my pals that have belt driven Ultra's and Ive never heard either bike make a noise from the belts. I'll pay more attention to it when we ride together next time.

wiz · 03-15-2011, 06:13 PM

If you could hear the belts chirping (or anything else besides loud pipes), those weren't real Harleys! :-)

macmac · 03-15-2011, 06:51 PM

Do a swingarm service and soak the drive shaft in a solvent tank. peel back the rubber seals on the U joint and blow all the grease out. Heat the shaft to dry off the solvent, then soak the shaft in water for a week.

Re-install it and your bike will chirp just like a Harley

**cnc** · 03-15-2011, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macmac

Do a swingarm service and soak the drive shaft in a solvent tank. peel back the rubber seals on the U joint and blow all the grease out. Heat the shaft to dry off the solvent, then soak the shaft in water for a week.

Re-install it and your bike will chirp just like a Harley

Or just clothes pin a baseball card close to the rear wheel, a lot less work if you want to return it to stock. ::)

macmac · 03-15-2011, 07:17 PM

base ball cards don't chirp so far as I know.... He's lookin' fer

the HD chirp......

**glwilson** · 03-15-2011, 07:21 PM

Have never heard the chirp being referred to...

I think I would be getting that fixed.

**cnc** · 03-15-2011, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macmac

base ball cards don't chirp so far as I know.... He's lookin' fer

the HD chirp......

Mac, the cards from the Cardinals, Orioles or Toronto Blue Jays work best

ponch · 03-15-2011, 07:36 PM

May be the tension on the belts was incorrect. This would happen when the rear tire gets changed. While I like shaft drive, I haven't heard of anything inherent in proper belt drives that would indicate chirping.

jandreu · 03-15-2011, 10:03 PM

My HD has 58K on the orginal belt and still looks like new. While I like the shaft drive on the Nomad I think the belt is good also.

AlabamaNomadRider · 03-15-2011, 10:10 PM

The only belt driven cycle I was on was one that my first cousin owned. Back then, the 60s, when the belt got wet riding in the rain you quit riding because the belt would start to slip. I owned two motorcycles with chains and now am on my third with a shaft. The shaft is so much better than the chain. Can't say anything about modern belts but have just never wanted a bike with a belt.

**ringadingh** · 03-16-2011, 04:53 AM

The HD belts have a long life to them nowadays. My pal had about 90k on his when he replaced it.

**glwilson** · 03-16-2011, 07:09 AM

The belts of "old" are not the belts of "new".

They are not what they used to be. That's all I'll say to those that are dead-set against belts.

wiz · 03-16-2011, 08:21 AM

Belts are the way to go. Sorry, suspenders just make me look stoopider. You have to go with what works for you.

desertdog · 03-16-2011, 10:32 AM

I have no problem with belt drives per se, it just suprised the hell out of me to have so many of them around. The riders apparently are used to it, but I would hate to do a long ride with the noise.

I have read that the chirping is usually not an issue on a belt drive, so it obviously has to be some thing slightly out of adjustment. It is just not something I would accept if I had a belt drive ride.

03-15-2011, 05:56 PM	#1
desertdog Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Goodyear AZ Posts: 331	Why I like my shaft drive Did a Patriot Guard mission today. Got in about the middle of the pack, surrounded by harleys 2 in front, one on my side and two behind. Soon as we got going I noticed all the belt drives were chirping. Get up to about 30 MPH and it sounded like I was stuck in the middle of a flock of giant canaries. The noise would not quit. :(" title="" border="0"/> Wound up with a head ache from all that chirping before we were done. I like my nice quiet smooth shaft drive. :) Login or Register to Remove Ads
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03-15-2011, 05:59 PM	#2
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	Why I like my shaft drive I ride with two of my pals that have belt driven Ultra's and Ive never heard either bike make a noise from the belts. I'll pay more attention to it when we ride together next time. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
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03-15-2011, 06:13 PM	#3
wiz Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 498	Why I like my shaft drive If you could hear the belts chirping (or anything else besides loud pipes), those weren't real Harleys! :-)
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03-15-2011, 06:51 PM	#4
macmac Sr. Contributor Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tamworth New Hampster 06 1600 Posts: 12,484	Why I like my shaft drive Do a swingarm service and soak the drive shaft in a solvent tank. peel back the rubber seals on the U joint and blow all the grease out. Heat the shaft to dry off the solvent, then soak the shaft in water for a week. Re-install it and your bike will chirp just like a Harley __________________ 06 1600 Nomad Just call me Mac molon labe come and get it
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03-15-2011, 07:17 PM	#6
macmac Sr. Contributor Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tamworth New Hampster 06 1600 Posts: 12,484	Why I like my shaft drive base ball cards don't chirp so far as I know.... He's lookin' fer the HD chirp...... __________________ 06 1600 Nomad Just call me Mac molon labe come and get it
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03-15-2011, 07:21 PM	#7
glwilson Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: North Central Illinois Posts: 8,575	Why I like my shaft drive Have never heard the chirp being referred to... I think I would be getting that fixed. __________________ "During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." "You can have your own opinion, but not your own facts." *Former VBA NCR Assist Regional Leader* Formerly: 2004 1500FI Bronze Nomad: 2009 & 2014 HD Ultra Current Rides: 2017 HD Ultra Limited & 2011 Can Am Spyder RTS-SE Attended: VBA National Rallies 2009, 2011, 2015; VBA/NCR Regional Rally 2010, 12, 14, 16 and several rides throughout with regional members. VBA Member #652 HOG Member #3935417
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03-15-2011, 07:36 PM	#9
ponch Sr. Contributor Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Way East Valley Posts: 12,017	Why I like my shaft drive May be the tension on the belts was incorrect. This would happen when the rear tire gets changed. While I like shaft drive, I haven't heard of anything inherent in proper belt drives that would indicate chirping. __________________ Ponch VBA 0019 VROC 8109-R BMWMOA 162849 BMWRA 41335 BMW: When you care enough to ride the very best. My Motorrad Blog My Motorrad YouTube 2009 BMW R1200RT Previous bikes:2007 Nomad \| 2001 Vulcan 800 Classic \| 1984 GPz750 \| 1978 KZ1000A2 Rallies: Custer '09\|Prairie Du Chien '10\|Crescent City '11
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03-15-2011, 10:03 PM	#10
jandreu Sr. Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Makawao, Hawaii Posts: 1,409	Why I like my shaft drive My HD has 58K on the orginal belt and still looks like new. While I like the shaft drive on the Nomad I think the belt is good also. __________________ James Andreu '07 1600 Red/Silver VBA Member #1356 jandreu@hawaiiantel.net
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03-15-2011, 10:10 PM	#11
AlabamaNomadRider Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Boaz, Alabama Posts: 13,742	Why I like my shaft drive The only belt driven cycle I was on was one that my first cousin owned. Back then, the 60s, when the belt got wet riding in the rain you quit riding because the belt would start to slip. I owned two motorcycles with chains and now am on my third with a shaft. The shaft is so much better than the chain. Can't say anything about modern belts but have just never wanted a bike with a belt. __________________ Gene Cross, Jr. Boaz, Alabama KawaNOW/VBA #1181
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03-16-2011, 04:53 AM	#12
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	Why I like my shaft drive The HD belts have a long life to them nowadays. My pal had about 90k on his when he replaced it. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
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03-16-2011, 07:09 AM	#13
glwilson Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: North Central Illinois Posts: 8,575	Why I like my shaft drive The belts of "old" are not the belts of "new". They are not what they used to be. That's all I'll say to those that are dead-set against belts. __________________ "During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." "You can have your own opinion, but not your own facts." *Former VBA NCR Assist Regional Leader* Formerly: 2004 1500FI Bronze Nomad: 2009 & 2014 HD Ultra Current Rides: 2017 HD Ultra Limited & 2011 Can Am Spyder RTS-SE Attended: VBA National Rallies 2009, 2011, 2015; VBA/NCR Regional Rally 2010, 12, 14, 16 and several rides throughout with regional members. VBA Member #652 HOG Member #3935417
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03-16-2011, 08:21 AM	#14
wiz Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 498	Why I like my shaft drive Belts are the way to go. Sorry, suspenders just make me look stoopider. You have to go with what works for you.
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03-16-2011, 10:32 AM	#15
desertdog Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Goodyear AZ Posts: 331	Why I like my shaft drive I have no problem with belt drives per se, it just suprised the hell out of me to have so many of them around. The riders apparently are used to it, but I would hate to do a long ride with the noise. I have read that the chirping is usually not an issue on a belt drive, so it obviously has to be some thing slightly out of adjustment. It is just not something I would accept if I had a belt drive ride.
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